A plague of school closures threatens to poison the future of small Riverina towns, but determined residents are banding together and fighting back.
It comes after the Mullengandra Public School confirmed it would cease to operate in 2018, while the future of Collingullie Public School remains unclear.
Attentions have now turned to the towns themselves as they battle to sustain their populations.
Ganmain business owner Melissa Corbett said it was concerning to watch the demise of Riverina schools but remained positive about the future.
“I considered opening up in a bigger area but then it would take away the purpose of what I was doing – I would just be another gift store in Wagga,” she said.
“Here I am five minutes from home if my kids or my husband need me on the farm.
“Our numbers are growing each year and people are moving to the country areas for lifestyle, which tells me we are in a good position.”
As vice-president of the Advance Ganmain Committee and the owner of Fisher and Farmer homeware store, Mrs Corbett said businesses were integral to the survival of small towns.
“I didn’t know what to expect in a town of 500 people but it’s going really well,” she said.
“It gives these little towns that are otherwise quite sleepy an opportunity to thrive.
“Other people see what you’re doing and it motivates them to do something too.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Grong Grong Progress Association president Bob Manning, who says generational growth coupled with fresh opportunities will ensure the survival of outlying towns.
“We are not a dying village and a deviation to bypass it might make it all the better,” Mr Manning said.
“It’s going to be a village which has a continued need to be there as the centre of barley, canola, fish farming and a large piggery.”
After years of battling after the closure of Grong Grong Primary School, Mr Manning said when it comes to education, the focus should be set on humanity over monetary.
“They didn’t give us a chance – it’s quite dogmatic to close as many schools as they can to support the cities,” he said.
“They didn’t seem to take into account the needs of younger children.
“There are so many benefits in going to your local school, the teacher and parent ratio and the opportunity to form friendships are better.”
Despite the educational concern, Mr Manning said Grong Grong would continue to thrive.
“We have sons and daughters taking over the farms, they’ve returned with extra skills and are supplying the needs for our area,” he said.
Matong councillor Colin McKinnon, however, continues to fear for smaller regions.
“Coolamon and other areas are growing but they are close enough to Wagga to have the country lifestyle with the convenience,” Cr McKinnon said.
“When you’re a bit further out, unless you have an industry close by, you keep struggling and I don’t have any miracle answers.”
Cr McKinnon said small towns have come full circle, with big enterprises taking over.
“There just isn’t a lot left,” he said. “Schooling numbers have always been a battle and unless there’s viable businesses running, it halves the workforce.
“It is a major concern with most children having to leave for boarding school – they often find a different lifestyle and can’t come back to somewhere 100 kilometres away from things.”
